The Albatross

From side to side || behind us he is weaving
Soaring on high || but his wings barely moving
Back down on earth || on our small tub ungraceful
Cold sprays smash us || each gust gifting a face-full
Over the rail || and up onto our waiting
Waiting wet faces || turned half away in fear
Closed up jackets || that shrink the world before us
Clasp over the basin || all that we hold dear
Back on high || then back again before us
The screech of gulls || cut through a lesser chorus
Down on the deck || against him I am burning
Nurse a jealous flame || of wide wings unfurling
Crawl on old boat! || Without my steel contraption
Down I’d float slowly || sea-change my lungs to brine
Our bodies won’t fly || won’t soar won’t glissando
Without assistance || in metal or in rhyme